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That truly is a tough decision but it really comes down to your personal preference. Shortly after I got my M5 one of my best friends bought a 2003 RS6. Whenever I'm visiting family in Jersey we always like to mess around with the cars when we can safely and I must say they're both outstanding.
Both of our cars are in pretty much stock trim, he obvoiusly has the horsepower advantage but it's heavier as well. Usually our rides comes down to who outdrives the other that particular time. IMO this makes it all the more fun! If we're going for a straight drag I need a perfect launch to make it even close, sometimes I've even beaten him but he can start to reel me in. In turns, it's whoever drives it better. Even with his AWD.
That being said I prefer my M because I've always been a BMW fan and RWD is my favorite layout. He's a huge VW/Audi fan for good reasons that he can back up and will swear that the RS6 is the top choice. They're both damn hot cars and to be honest the Audi is a little more rare in terms of how many you'll ever see. Plus his is a rare special order color so it's a little cooler IMO.
Take a ride in both, get some wheel time in both if anyone will let you. Then make your pick and don't look back. Either way, you'll end up with a hell of a car.
__________________ 2002 Jet Black/Imola Red Sport
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K40 Undetectable
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I don't agree with this statement at all. If someone thinks that Audi has no soul, they either haven't driven an RS4 (or an R8 for that matter), or are not very open-minded about anything without an M badge. I have said since owning RS4's that I think they are a modern interpretation of the E39 M5. Very mechanical, very engaging to drive, and with better technology. In fact, the only car I probably like more than the M5 is the RS4. But both are phenominal cars. This is a discussion about the RS6 though, not the RS4. I just wanted to go on record when I saw the blanket statement about Audi having no soul.
As far as the RS6 goes, it is a great car. I actually have the opportunity to purchase a 22,000 mile Stage 3 RS6 right now that is pushing around 580 horsepower. It's my friends car and I have played a little with him on the highway just to see. I didn't just loose, I got slaughtered by him. The problem is that while I can pick the car up for a very reasonable price, I will agree with everyone else on the board by saying that it is a pretty boring car other than the power. What a lot of people did forget about the RS6 is that it is also extremely expensive to maintain. It makes our cars look like Honda Civics when comparing maintanence cost. Think of the RS6 as an 850CSI and you'll understand the cost of ownership.
Some things to also consider about the M5 vs RS6 are that the RS6 was a 1 year production car in the US. The M5 was a 3 year, so exclusitivity of the RS6 is much higher. I don't think you're going to run into any problems with seeing M5's all over the place though. They're still somewhat rare.
Either car will make you happy, but in the case of the M5 vs RS6 I truly think the M5 is much more engaging. I also think it is a better looking car (totally subjective). Good luck with your decision.
I have driven an R8 on a track last year and wasn't particularly impressed with that either, but that may just be me. It was very clinical, fast and that was about it for me. It's all down to the individual tastes and requirements of the driver? As i said in my post i am biased, as are most people on this board. I used to work for a car dealer who sold Audi, BMW and Mercedes so i have driven almost every model of the three brands up until 2006 when i left, so I personally think I am well placed to form an opinion of most models, and I am very open minded. I went in a friends RS6 that was a stage 2 tune to 570BHP and sounded lovely, and went well.
I would like to see the responses on an Audi forum for RS6 vs. e39 M5 and see what sort of responses are made!
cheers
__________________
Alex
2002 M5 - TotalBMW Feature car September 2008
2000 Land Rover Defender - Land Rover World Feature Car June 2007
1989 VW Golf GTI - Track Car
I would like to see the responses on an Audi forum for RS6 vs. e39 M5 and see what sort of responses are made!
cheers
Good point. And I'm sure you're right about the Audi forums. In fact, I think they may be a little bit worse with how biased they are. I am probably more biased towards Audi though, as BMW currently only makes one vehicle I would even consider (X6). I am amazed that you didn't find the R8 more engaging, as I have also driven it and found pretty much what most of the magazines said. That it is better than the GT3. I've driven them both and love them both, but the R8 had an edge to it for me. Either way, whether you buy BMW, Audi, Mercedes, or Porsche they're all great cars.
Didn't mean to insult you. I do apologize. Guess I was just used to the M3 boards where God help you if you say anything that could insult an M3, you're called a bunch of names that I won't mention on this forum. That's why I only visit this forum and RS6.com. Much better environment.
If you havn't already done so, post this same question on a rs6 forums. Then count all the yays for e39 and count all the yays for the rs6. The answer should be clear.
They are both great cars indeed but I think I may not be able to get over the slush box on the RS6. Ultimately, I am looking most on the "driving dynamics" instead of pure HP figures.
If only the RS6 comes with MTX then I will probably favor the audi, a V8TT + AWD + MTX would truly be one hell of a car.
But I think the ///M will prevail with its fine engineered balance on style, power, comfort and handling.
Which do you like better at rest (interior/exterior styling)? Which do you like better to drive? Any chance you could get both?
You have a VR-4 (coincidentally, that was my first car) so you already have your toy with AWD, right?
Like others have said, these are enviable cars any way you slice it. If you really want a nice E39, you will find it. It just may not be in your own backyard. I spent half a year and drove four of them before I found a very cherry, one-owner, Carbon Black '03 that was still under warranty. It was 200 miles away, but they are out there. Not too long ago, I saw one for sale in CT with <30k miles. Good luck!
Only problem with Audi's, in my opinion, is that they are bland to drive, live with, and if it makes sense they don;t have a soul.
I have a hard time agreeing this this statement too. The RS6 with its heavier weight and especially with the slushbox perhaps is more along those lines, but I have a B5 S4, and that little sucker is fun to drive. I've been autocrossing since the 1970's and track/time trial stuff since 1981, so I'm coming to that statement with a wealth of experience in many cars. It obviously is nothing like the M5, but for what it is, I've always enjoyed driving it. It feels precise and accurate behind the wheel with perhaps a bit too touchy brakes, and it is a BLAST to drive in wet weather. At a stop sign in the wet, you can turn off DSC, rev it to 4k rpm, dump the clutch and make the 90 degree turn. Granted it is heavy for its size, and definitely prone to terminal understeer on track, and clearly not at all similar to the M5. However, defending Audi a bit here, if all M5s disappeared tomorrow, if you got stuck with an RS4 with a 6MT, life wouldn't be all that bad.
I would assume the RS6 is my S4's grown up brother, more weight, slushbox, etc. For all out enthusiast driving, I would take the M5 hands-down. My M5 has had its modified suspension for so long though I've forgotten what a stock one drives like.
__________________ Current stable:
2001 M5 LeMans Blue/Silverstone
Dinan: springs, Konis, rear sway bar, monoball bushings, and exhaust
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Brake ducts opened
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2001 Audi S4 6MT Silver/sport Alcantara
1996 Volvo 850R wagon
Granted it is heavy for its size, and definitely prone to terminal understeer on track, and clearly not at all similar to the M5. However, defending Audi a bit here, if all M5s disappeared tomorrow, if you got stuck with an RS4 with a 6MT, life wouldn't be all that bad. 
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